ASP News

ASP Summer Program Heats Up as Temperatures Soar

Over 14,000 volunteers to converge on Central Appalachia making homes 'warmer, safer and drier' for over 500 families

As ASP summer staff training has concluded, and center staffers are beginning to set-up their centers, the summer is heating up—literally and figuratively. For the past two weeks, ASP summer staff—numbering 138 this summer—have been living, learning, playing, and making preparations for a busy, hot summer in Central Appalachia. Temperatures in the region have already soared past 90 degrees, and it’s only May!

Between June 10 and July 28, over 14,000 volunteers from California to Maine will converge on five states—Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia—in 30 ASP Summer Centers. These volunteers will work to make homes ‘warmer, safer and drier’ for over 500 families.

ASP in Counties Hit Hard by Tornadoes, Flooding

In March of this year, many counties in ASP’s service areas in eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia were hit hard by tornadoes and flooding. ASP staff, at the encouragement of local officials, adjusted plans accordingly making it possible for volunteers to serve in nine communities hit the hardest by these disasters including: Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin (2), and Morgan counties in Kentucky, and in Mingo and Logan (3) counties in West Virginia.

Generous donors made it possible for ASP to move quickly to assess and plan for summer center set-up. Now, the call goes out for additional funds needed to do as much work as possible during this year’s summer program. To make a donation, please click here to be re-directed to our secure online giving page. Then, click on ‘Disaster Relief’, allowing ASP staff to put your gift to use in the most needed area, or click on another link to otherwise direct your gift. Your gift will go toward the purchase of materials, and the deployment of volunteers in critical areas of need. Thank you, in advance, for your continuing generosity.

Magoffin County High School serves as ASP Summer Center

Surveying Magoffin County High School, where ASP’s Magoffin (KY) County Center will be housed, center director, Sam Briegel, reported, “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I first drove up to the high school. The school sign was tilted at a 45 degree angle, and part of the school yard was a debris collection site.”

No doubt, ASP volunteers will find unprecedented challenges as they arrive for their week of service. One thing is certain, volunteers will find well-prepared, eager summer staff members whose one purpose follows this year’s theme: All for One. The theme, based on I Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV), reminds everyone—volunteers, donors, and staff alike—that, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”